I've decided to part out the NA and take the year off from track work. I want to get my track "infrastructure" better in place and do some things around the house.

At the moment, I'm keeping the 949 BGK and 4-corner Wilwood setup with the thought I will pick up a clean NB2 this winter. Install baller suspension/brakes, add roll bar/seats/harnesses, and leave the drivetrain basically stock for a season or two and just enjoy.

However, last night and this morning I was thinking with the price of higher mileage NC1s coming down, they could be a better choice. Better rear suspension, stock brakes, more room for rubber, stiffer chassis, etc.

But there doesn't seem to be nearly as many suspension/tuning/etc. options for the NC as for the NA/NB.

I'm going off a brief conversation I had with a NC owner 4 years ago, but they told me the early NC motors don't take abuse as well as the later ('09+ I think) motors do. From what I recall, the '09+ got better lower internals.

Assuming it's within budget, NC hands down. There are plenty of aftermarket options for things, especially since you don't want to do anything crazy to it, just the basic stuff. Brakes, Suspension, Wheels, etc. all have plenty of directions you can go, and fabrication for safety stuff isn't model specific.

I'm going off a brief conversation I had with a NC owner 4 years ago, but they told me the early NC motors don't take abuse as well as the later ('09+ I think) motors do. From what I recall, the '09+ got better lower internals.

09+ MANUAL engines got a forged crank and 500rpm higher redline.

If you kept the stock 7000RPM redline, I don't think it would be an issue. But I haven't looked around enough to see if there are other issues that come with tracking an NC.

The stock intake manifold doesn't seem to breathe particularly well higher than that anyway?

If wasn't so low mileage, I'd spend the rest of the year paying off my '06 Miata and turn it into a track rat. But a GT with 44k miles is still worth a bit much for that. (It's going up for sale soon)

Assuming it's within budget, NC hands down. There are plenty of aftermarket options for things, especially since you don't want to do anything crazy to it, just the basic stuff. Brakes, Suspension, Wheels, etc. all have plenty of directions you can go, and fabrication for safety stuff isn't model specific.

-Ryan

Does it even need brakes at stock power levels? I know pad taper will always be a concern on sliding caliper setups, but they seem pretty decent.

Also, I need to look around and see what the "hot setup" is. IE, I don't feel like dicking around trying to figure out spring rates, etc. I essentially would want to do what I did with the NA:

So it seems pretty straightforward that if I can make the budget for an NC work, go that direction, if not, clean VVT car. So I'll hang on to the XIDAs/Wilwoods for now.

Haha yeah, sorry, I just had to share because.. it is awesome.

If my '99 was lost somehow, I would start with an NC, I think. I've had a few friends do that and it seemed like it didn't take much to make them pretty awesome track cars... suspension, seat, harness... go.

Reliability issues are probably pre larger oil cooler years. I think that's the 06 only, but don't remember. I would google around about it.

also NC2s tend to fair better on track from some light reading a did a year ago. You can swap the NC1 bumper onto an NC2, so if its within budget, you don't have to be the goofy smiley car on track.

Otherwise, NC won't have as strong aftermarket support as the NA/NB until it gets cheaper. With that said, it still has plenty of good support and the playboy cup gives you a pretty good marker to compare with.

Also another bonus point is it seems there is the ability to swap heads/blocks for more NA power. That seems like a big bonus to me! Not that there is anything wrong with Turbos...which I am sure an NC will take very well also!

Reliability issues are probably pre larger oil cooler years. I think that's the 06 only, but don't remember. I would google around about it.

also NC2s tend to fair better on track from some light reading a did a year ago. You can swap the NC1 bumper onto an NC2, so if its within budget, you don't have to be the goofy smiley car on track.

Otherwise, NC won't have as strong aftermarket support as the NA/NB until it gets cheaper. With that said, it still has plenty of good support and the playboy cup gives you a pretty good marker to compare with.

Also another bonus point is it seems there is the ability to swap heads/blocks for more NA power. That seems like a big bonus to me! Not that there is anything wrong with Turbos...which I am sure an NC will take very well also!

Thanks for the additional input, it's greatly appreciated.

I actually don't see the need for much more power beyond the I/H/E/Tune on an NC. IIRC stock they tend to put down around 140whp, and the aforementioned mods tend add 25-30whp. So I can see an NC with 165-170whp, 225-235 Rcomps and a good suspension being a beast on track.

At least for my home track (Hallett) and the tighter tracks in the NASA Mid-west region.

Another thing to consider. Should the worst happen and you ball up the car. the NB can be stretched, pulled, and massaged back into shape even if its REALLY bad. The NC, gets "lightly" tapped and you need a new tub. According to a local shop that rents both out for for road racing (and s2ks and RX7s).